Death toll in Glasgow plastics factory blast rises to seven

12 May 2004 14:34[Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Seven persons are now confirmed to have died in the explosion Tuesday at the Stockline Plastics factory in ?xml:namespace>Glasgow, Scotland, a Strathclyde Police spokesman told CNI on Wednesday.

He said five people died at the site and two in hospital.

The spokesman also confirmed that 21 people are still under treatment in hospital but 19 others have been discharged.

A number of people remain unaccounted for and rescue operations are continuing, the spokesman added.?xml:namespace>

About 100 workers were normally employed at the plant, but it was not clear how many were on the site at the time of blast.

A full investigation into the cause of the explosion will only be undertaken once the personnel rescue is completed. However, it was reported that the blast may have originated in an oven in the plant's metal coatings section.

The factory produces various types of plastic products, according to a spokesman for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). He said the site, which included office accommodation as well as production and storage facilities, was "virtually demolished" in the blast.